Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi implants first wireless heart sensor for remote heart failure monitoring

UAE—Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has become the first hospital in Abu Dhabi to implant an advanced heart-monitoring sensor designed to detect early signs of worsening chronic heart failure.

The minimally invasive technology enables doctors to monitor patients remotely and identify changes in their condition before symptoms become severe.

The system sends data directly to the patient’s care team, allowing clinicians to intervene earlier, adjust treatment, and provide more personalised care without requiring patients to visit the hospital.

Wireless sensor enables remote monitoring

The procedure involves implanting a tiny wireless sensor in the pulmonary artery, a major blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lungs.

The device continuously measures pulmonary artery pressure and securely transmits the data to the patient’s healthcare team.

By monitoring changes in pressure over time, physicians can identify early warning signs of worsening heart failure that may not yet be apparent through symptoms alone.

This approach allows clinicians to respond more quickly to changes in a patient’s condition, including by adjusting medications and other aspects of treatment.

The hospital said the technology strengthens its remote patient monitoring capabilities and supports a more proactive approach to heart failure management.

It also enables patients to receive continuous oversight while living away from the hospital.

Dr Georges-Pascal Haber, Chief Executive Officer at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said the technology would change how clinicians manage patients with chronic heart failure.

“Instead of waiting for symptoms to worsen and require hospitalization, we can now monitor patients proactively and intervene earlier,” he said.

“This reflects our broader commitment to delivering the most advanced solutions of preventive, patient-centered healthcare.”

Dr Nadya Almatrooshi, Staff Physician in Cardiovascular Medicine at the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said continuous remote monitoring could give patients greater confidence in managing their condition.

“Patients often report improved symptom control, better exercise tolerance, and greater peace of mind knowing their care team is monitoring them closely,” she said.

First patients receive the implant

The implantable monitoring device is intended for patients with moderate to severe heart failure who are receiving guideline-directed medical therapy and have experienced at least one heart failure-related hospitalisation in the previous 12 months.

The first two patients to undergo the procedure at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi were Emirati nationals aged 62 and 79.

Both had a history of repeated hospital admissions caused by worsening heart failure, including symptoms such as shortness of breath and fluid build-up.

Clinicians perform the procedure in the hospital’s cardiac catheterisation laboratory, which is accredited by the American College of Cardiology.

The procedure typically takes one to two hours and uses local anaesthesia and mild sedation.

Patients are generally monitored for four to 24 hours following implantation, although some can return home on the same day.

Most resume normal activities within one to two days, with only minor temporary restrictions.

Expanding advanced cardiac care

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi said the introduction of the technology forms part of its efforts to advance cardiovascular care in the UAE through innovative monitoring and treatment solutions.

The hospital has been designated a Center of Excellence for adult cardiac surgery by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and was ranked the number one hospital in the Middle East for cardiology in Newsweek’s Best Specialized Hospitals Middle East 2026 rankings.

In 2025, it also received Center of Excellence designation for cardiac catheterization procedures from the American College of Cardiology.

As the first hospital in Abu Dhabi to introduce the implantable monitoring technology, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is expanding access to advanced heart failure management and enabling patients to receive specialized care closer to home.